Research & Development Labs
These labs host advanced technologies and expertise including Advanced Optics & Fiber, Hybrid Fiber Coax, Mobile, Wi-Fi, Convergence, Cloud Native, Security, Wireless PHY/RF Analysis and AI and Machine Learning. These can be interconnected to simulate a wide range of network architectures and scenarios.
Advanced Optics & Fiber
The Advanced Optics & Fiber Lab is an Optical Center of Excellence—a state-of-the-art facility for developing and testing research concepts. In this lab, optical experts have demonstrated the transmission of 50 Tbps over a single fiber, 100G+ coherent passive optical network, optical wavelength switching methods and advanced sensing of environmental events.
Lab Equipment and Capabilities
This lab includes equipment that allows us to test research concepts that extend the current state of the art for optical fiber transmission, including:
Meet our lab expert
Dr. Zhensheng “Steve” Jia
Dr. Zhensheng “Steve” Jia is a Fellow and Director of Advanced Optical Technologies at CableLabs. He has built a strong track record of research innovations over the last two decades and has made numerous significant technical contributions in the field of broadband optical communication systems and networking. Dr. Jia has published over 190 peer-reviewed journals and conferences papers, 1 book and eleven book chapters, and has been invited to speak at many conferences. He also holds more than 180 US and international patents. Dr. Jia has been instrumental in spearheading coherent optics standards and interoperability for access networks. He served as Technical Lead driving point-to-point coherent specifications and associated transceiver interop testing. Recently, Dr. Jia led technology development for next generation 100Gbps access networks on CableLabs' pioneering coherent PON project. Dr. Jia is a Fellow of Optica (formerly Optical Society of America).
Hybrid Fiber Coax
The Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) Lab is used to establish new specification requirements, validate existing specifications, verify theories and conduct experiments related to future technology options. This state-of-the-art lab has been a foundational piece in the successful development of DOCSIS® 4.0 and Low Latency DOCSIS (LLD)technologies. Our vendors are heavily involved in this lab and contribute to its development.
Lab Equipment and Capabilities
This lab comprises of innovative radio frequency and networking test equipment along with current DOCSIS-based technology solutions, including:
Meet our lab expert
Doug Jones
Doug Jones is a principal architect. He is responsible for many of the technical elements of the DOCSIS 4.0 program. Doug actively participates in several SCTE standards working groups, including the local SCTE chapter, and he has been issued multiple patents with patents pending in the areas of broadband access technology. Prior to joining CableLabs, Doug was focused on PON and FTTH technologies, distributed architecture and capacity planning. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology from the State University of New York at Albany, and a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and a Master of Science degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
Mobile
The Mobile Lab offers a range of capabilities, including performance testing of radio access network (RAN), shared spectrum and mobile backhaul solutions.
4G/5G Mobile Networking Capabilities
This lab environment was created to support development of network technologies, interfaces, and interoperability for the mobile ecosystem. The capabilities of the lab ensure that the equipment provided by vendors meets necessary performance and functionality specifications and enables interoperability development among multiple vendors. It can support a range of activities including conformance, proof of concept, deployment, performance measurement and simulation.
It supports lab and field tests of 3GPP based core and radio access network (RAN) equipment including 4G LTE, 5G NR, 5G NR-U, Wi-Fi, non-3GPP equipment and new wireless technologies. Multiple vendors’ solutions in the vRAN and ORAN space are featured. A virtual Kubernetes-based platform for ORAN vendor interface compliance testing and interoperability has been implemented.
Lab Equipment and Capabilities
Shared Spectrum
The shared spectrum capabilities support over-the-air and performance measurements of Citizens Band Radio Service (CBRS) network behavior in a multi-operator, multi-SAS environment with GAA and PAL licenses. Currently, the lab supports 4G CBRS networks and will support 5G CBRS networks once they’re commercially available. As CBRS and similar shared spectrum (e.g., 6 GHz) and networks (e.g., 5G NR-U) continue to mature, this lab will investigate deployment strategies, architectures, proofs of concept and performance.
Lab Equipment and Capabilities
Mobile Backhaul
Mobile Backhaul capabilities support the mission of collaborative development, testing and deployment of low-cost, high-quality open-source mobile connectivity. They are designed to test DOCSIS Timing Protocol (DTP) and Low Latency Xhaul (LLX) solutions. These capabilities provide the test network, test equipment and expertise for testing at all stages of development, from proof of concept to the transition into the commercial readiness phase.
Multi-vendor development of pre-commercial DTP software and hardware has been conducted in the lab. The software and hardware has been tested against both varying HFC network conditions (i.e., loading, service flows, architecture) and a cloud-based calibration application has been developed.
The lab has been used to host non-ideal fronthaul testing for the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) community, providing a successful proof-of-concept validation of non-ideal fronthaul over DOCSIS and contributions to industry standards. It is also an accredited TIP lab for fronthaul—one of only a few in the world.
Lab Equipment and Capabilities
Meet our lab expert
Mark Poletti
Mark Poletti is director of Wireless Technologies. He’s responsible for wireless R&D activities across fixed, mobile and emerging wireless technologies for the secure delivery of high-speed data, video, voice and next-generation services. Prior to joining CableLabs, Mark built, managed and operated 2G, 3G (CDMA) and 4G (WiMax) networks for US West and Clearwire. He also focused on mobile operator design, operations and performance issues of 2G, 3G, 4G and satellite networks for over 20 years with various companies. Mark holds a Master of Science degree in telecommunications from the University of Colorado and a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He has multiple issued and pending patents.
Wi-Fi
In this lab, there are environments for Wi-Fi research and OpenWi-Fi platform development.
Wi-Fi Research
The Wi-Fi research environment provides RF mitigation and isolation capabilities to enable the research and development of Wi-Fi technologies. The lab’s RF capabilities offer 60 dB of protection from outside interference, with the addition of two RF isolation tents of 180 dB for a total of 240 dB of protection. The lab supports access to external networks, including the internet, through ethernet and a DOCSIS platform.
Because Wi-Fi is the last leg of network connectivity in most deployments, research of existing and new technologies is paramount. This environment provides a facility where various deployment scenarios can be replicated—without external RF interference or the need for an RF chamber.
Lab Equipment and Capabilities
OpenWiFi
In this Telecom Infra Project (TIP)-compliant environment, experts conduct development and conformance activities for OpenWiFi. This community-developed open-source platform lowers the cost of developing and operating Wi-Fi networks and accelerates the innovation of services.
OpenWiFi is an initiative of the Open Converged Wireless (OCW) software project group under TIP, a diverse community that includes hundreds of participating companies, from service providers and technology partners to systems integrators and other connectivity stakeholders. In the past, every service provider or vendor has had to build the Wi-Fi stack from scratch for specific hardware. OpenWiFi provides an open implementation of the stack, along with certified hardware on which the stack can run. It provides open APIs that enable device management from the cloud.
Lab Equipment and Capabilities
Meet our lab expert
Luther Smith
Luther Smith is the director of Wireless Access Technologies and a distinguished technologist. He is responsible for devising Wi-Fi strategy and leading the Wi-Fi team. He works on several wireless technologies and has extensive experience in many wired and video technologies. His roles have extended from testing and specification development to leadership positions. Before joining CableLabs, he worked as a programmer and in IT support. Luther holds a Master of Information Systems degree and an MBA in Technical Management from the University of Phoenix. He is ISC2 CISSP certified and a member of SCTE and IEEE. He also supports various standards organizations as lead or co-lead and key contributor (CBRS-A, IEEE, Wireless Innovation Forum, Wireless Broadband Allianceand Wi-Fi Alliance), and he has developed new wireless technologies, including Dual Channel Wi-Fi and LTE Redundancy.
10G
Convergence
The 10G Lab provides a multi-vendor, interoperable platform to enable cross-functional groups (e.g., wireless, HFC, optics, orchestration, security) to conduct proofs of concept and validate individual network functions and end-to-end solutions. This lab interconnects cable and mobile architectures with containerized software, acting as a shared compute framework to demonstrate multi-service convergence over a common infrastructure.
The lab’s primary purpose is to demonstrate services that can seamlessly operate over multiple networks while using a shared infrastructure, and to serve as a platform for basic mobile network testing and integration.
This lab enables testing of next-generation network and service capabilities across multiple layers, facilitates interoperability development between technologies and calculates operational efficiencies. It has many unique attributes, such as Kubernetes on bare metal, multiple mobile cores and vRAN configurations, DOCSIS® technology mobile and coherent optical integration with representative fiber and outside plant, and a fully integrated compute platform. One of the use cases is driving convergence architectures.
Lab Equipment and Capabilities
Meet our lab expert
Randy Levensalor
Randy Levensalor is a distinguished technologist at CableLabs, a non-profit research and development laboratory supported by the global cable industry. As a principal member of the Future Infrastructure Group (FIG), he engages in various disciplines. His responsibilities include developing edge computing, wireless-wireline convergence, and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) architectures. Additionally, he focuses on the evolution strategy of Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial (HFC) networks to ensure that the industry can meet its customers' future needs. Randy was recognized in Fierce Telecom’s "The top 25 movers and shakers in the telecom industry."
Cloud Native
The Cloud Native capabilities offer a showcase for future access network infrastructure and explores the possibilities unleashed by fully virtualized cloud-native architectures. In this lab, private, public and edge cloud infrastructure come together to bring hyperscale technologies and capabilities to the access network. Cloud Native capabilities enables testing and collaboration on a host of edge use cases in partnership with experts ranging from traditional cloud providers to emerging edge application developers.
Lab Equipment and Capabilities
Meet our lab expert
Ryan Fuerst
Ryan Fuerst is a lead DevOps engineer. As a member of the Future Infrastructures Group, he’s responsible for leading the 10G Lab in implementing new convergence strategies and bringing DevOps best practices into the organization. Ryan brings more than 20 years of experience in systems architecture and cloud engineering to the team. Prior to joining CableLabs, he worked at Viasat.
Security
The Security Lab identifies and mitigates security threats to the access network. In this lab, we demonstrate, analyze and develop innovative solutions.
Lab Equipment and Capabilities
This collection of labs and equipment allow us to simulate, replicate or experiment with threat vectors and look for mitigations. It includes:
Meet our lab expert
Brian Scriber
Brian Scriber is a distinguished technologist and the vice president of Security and Privacy Technologies. He works with leaders in technology policy, as well as wired and wireless networking, to devise security strategies and implementation techniques using advanced concepts such as PKI, blockchains, encryption and differential privacy. Brian serves several boards, including the Messaging Malware Mobile Anti-Abuse Working Group (M3AAWG), and is also engaged with several other industry standards organizations. Brian’s background includes technical and executive leadership roles at Nortel, Lockheed Martin and Sun Microsystems. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree in computer engineering from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Science degree in computer science and an MBA in technical strategy, both from the University of Colorado.
Wireless PHY/RF Analysis
This lab supports research efforts, up to 110 GHz. This includes performance evaluation of 4G/5G wireless access (emulated by test equipment). This capability could support the calibration of access system simulations (e.g., 5G Fixed Wireless Access). The lab also supports RF front-end performance evaluation and channel sounding characterization, including modeling, for complex propagation channels (e.g., non-line-of-sight, outdoor-to-indoor).
Lab Equipment and Capabilities
Meet our lab expert
Dorin Viorel
Dorin Viorel is a distinguished technologist. He has more than 30 years of experience in the global (United States, Japan, Canada, Romania) wireless industry (R&D, standards, operations) across wireless spectra up to 75 GHz. Dorin has been driving a number of 5G access projects. He also collaborates closely with the Strategy Team, developing cross-disciplinary techno-economics 5G performance analysis and modeling. Prior to joining CableLabs, among other positions, Dorin held senior management and senior technical advisor roles with Nortel (24–38 GHz fixed point-to-multipoint wireless systems R&D) and various Fujitsu subsidiaries (WiMAX, LTE R&D, IEEE and 3GPP standardization). He has been granted 101 patents, all 4G/5G wireless access related. He has also published 8 scientific papers and 20+ member papers. Dorin holds a diploma engineer in electronics engineering from Technical University of Timisoara, Romania.
AI and Machine Learning
In this lab, our experts use sophisticated machine learning (ML) models that leverage intentionally engineered and governed data pipelines to help operators anticipate raw customer needs and evolve their services around them. This lab helps leverage contextualized, relevant data that augments and supports decision-making on demand. It creates software that identifies the nature of flows in the network, managing performance proactively and evolving to a fully virtualized network.
Lab Equipment and Capabilities
Meet our lab expert
Dr. Sayandev Mukherjee
Dr. Irene Macaluso is a member of the Future Infrastructure group at CableLabs, where she works on innovative applications of machine learning, AI, and optimization for both wired and wireless communications. Prior to joining CableLabs, she was a Senior Research Fellow at Trinity College Dublin (CONNECT Centre), where her research focused on multi-agent decision making and dynamic resource management.
A recipient of the IEEE ComSoc Best Readings on Cognitive Radio, Dr. Macaluso has an extensive track record of innovation, including patents for the automatic generation of digital twins for network optimization. She has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications and served as a Principal Investigator on several research projects funded by the European Commission and the US Air Force. She received her Ph.D. in Robotics from the University of Palermo, where she developed cognitive autonomous systems.
Explore our other labs
Testing Services
Kyrio Inc., a subsidiary of CableLabs, provides lab testing of network equipment for cable, PON, and mobile operators and their suppliers.
Next Generation Technologies Lab
In the Next Generation Technologies Lab, we experiment and investigate technologies such as quantum encryption.
System & Device Test Environments
The System & Device Test Environments can be configured to simulate wide-ranging scenarios—from large anechoic chambers to 3D-printed radio frequency (RF) modeling to advanced optics benches.